Container filler-valve volume adjustment

ABSTRACT

A container filling-valve includes a valve body having two generally hollow cylindrical sections mounted to have relative axial movement. The two sections are biased by a spring to have relative movement in a first sense. One of the sections (the upper) has an inlet for the filling material; the other section (the lower) has a discharge port for discharging the fluid material into a container to be filled. A valve member cooperates with the discharge port to control fluid flow therethrough and is normally biased to a closed position. A flexible diaphragm connects the two sections. When the upper section is moved sufficiently for the container to be contacted, the valve is opened. The valve has a seal means which engages the upper rim of the container to be filled. The seal means includes an annular flange-like member threadedly engaged to the lower valve section such that rotation of the annular member permits it to be axially positioned along the lower section thereby to adjust the extent to which the lower valve section can extend into the container and thus control the volume of fluid deposited in the container. A friction locking nut adapted to frictionally engage the flange-like member permits the flange-like member to be locked into its adjusted position.

United States Patent Ayars, Jr.

[54] CONTAINER FILLER-VALVE VOLUME ADJUSTMENT 72] Inventor: David M.Ayars, Jr., Salem, NJ.

08079 [73] Assignee: Ayars Fi1lers, Inc.,Salem,N.J.

221 Filed: Oct. 16,1970

21 Appl.No.: 81,299

Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr. Attorney-Mortenson & Weigel [451Oct. 3, 1972 two generally hollow cylindrical sections mounted to haverelative axial movement. The two sections are biased by a spring to haverelative movement in a first valve has a seal means which engages theupper rim of the container to be filled. The seal means includes anannular flange-like member threadedly engaged to the lower valve sectionsuch that rotation of the annular member permits it to be axiallypositioned along the lower section thereby to adjust the extent to whichthe lower valve section can extend into the container and thus controlthe volume of fluid deposited in the container. A friction locking nutadapted to frictionally engage the flange-like member permits theflange-like member to be locked into its adjusted position.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures [57] ABSTRACT A container filling-valveincludes a valve body having 61 I w 65 l 63 55 2 M Prin 1d 36 16 Mover24 20 1 7 **1- 7 T 82 100 l q BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION upper rim ofan open container, fill the container to a predetermined level withfluid and then disengage from the container. The level to which thecontainer is filled or the volume of fluid deposited in the container iscontrolled by adjusting the depth to which the discharge port or orificeextends downwardly intothe interior of the open end of the container.

While quite practical and useful and used extensively throughout theindustry, the Ayars valve incorporates a split clamping band about thelower portion of the valve to permit adjustment of the position of thesealing gasket relative to the valve port. This permits the adjustmentof the degree of protrusion of the valve port into the container merelyby adjusting the position of the split clamping band. Unfortunately ithas been found from experience that the split clamping band isrelatively diff cult to disengage and adjust accurately about the valve.The difficulty of adjustment arises from the fact that if the clampingband is not properly aligned with the valve it tends to bind and lock.Furthermore, after the valve has been in use forawhile it often becomessomewhat caked and corroded and tends to make the sliding of theclamping valve extremely difficult to the point that often the entirevalve assembly has to be disassembled and the valve cleaned before anaccurate adjustment can be made.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to obviate some of thedisadvantages of the prior art fillervalve described hereinbefore.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved filler-valvethat is .readily adjustable to discharge different volumes of fluid intothe containers to be filled.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a simplifiedfiller-valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a preferred, embodiment of thisinvention, an improved filler-valve adapted to fill containers includesa valve body having two generally hollow cylindrical sections mounted tohave relative axial movement. The valve includes means normally biasingthe relative movement of said sections in one sense. One of the sectionsof the valve has an inlet. The other section of the valvehas a dischargeport and seal means adapted to contact the container to be filled. Avalve member cooperates with said port to control the flow of fluidtherethrough and is normally held by the bias of the other section to aclosed position. Co-operating means between the valve member and one ofthe sections opens the valve member during the relative movement of thesections against their bias.

The seal means includes an annular flange-like member threadedly engagedto the other valve section such that rotation of the annular memberpermits the seal means to be adjusted axially along the valve thereby toadjust the extent to which the discharge port extends into the containerto be filled and thereby controls the volume of liquid deposited in thecontainer.

2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features that areconsidered characteristic of this invention are set forth withparticularity in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however,both as to its organization and method of operation, as well asadditional objects and advantages thereof, will be I best understoodfrom the following description when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view, partially fragmented illustrating atwo-section filler-valve constructed in accordance with this invention,adjusted such that the discharge port extends downwardly for insertioninto the container to be filled thereby to limit the volume of fluidthat can be discharged into said container;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view, partially fragmented, of afiller-valve constructed in accordance with this invention with thedischarge port adjusted to its full up position, the valve being in acondition im mediately prior to operation; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view, partially fragmented of thefiller-valve illustrated in FIG. 2 in an operated condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT There may be seen with referenceto FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing a container filler-valve l4constructed in accordance with this invention. This filler-valve isadapted to fill containers 12 which may be positioned on a table 10. Thetable 10 may be a continuous belt, a rotary filling mechanism or any ofthe other wellknown types of the art. Whatever the mechanism, thefiller-valve 14 is positioned above the containers l2 and thefiller-valve is adapted to be actuated along its vertical axis into andout of each of the container 12 as either the containers or filler-valveis successively positioned in axial alignment with each other.

A drive arm is forked such that the forked ends 16 are formed to fitaround the valve 14 and each of the forked ends 16 are slotted as at 22to engage gudgeon pins 24 positioned on either side of the valve body.The drive arm itself is actuated by a prime mover, illustrated by theblock 18 (FIG. 1) through a suitable mechanic linkage 20 which may be ofany suitable type such as that described, for example, in the said Ayarspatent. The particular drive used is not important to this invention.

The filler-valve 14 comprises an upper body section 26 and a lower bodysection 28 (FIG. 2). Each of these body sections preferably are hollowand cylindrical depending upon the type or shape of the container 12 andare connected together at their adjacent ends by a liquid seal whichpermits relative end-wise or axial movement of the body sections 26 and28. As is seen in the drawings, theupper section 26 has its lower endformed of reduced diameter and the upper end of the lower body section28 is enlarged to pennit the upper section 26 to move axially into theupper portion of the lower section 28.

To provide a fluid tight seal between the two sections, the upper end ofthe lower section 28 is connected as by flexible diaphragm 30, which maybe of rubber or any other suitable flexible material, arranged to spanor bridge the annular space between the contiguous ends of the two bodysections 26-28. The flexible annular diaphragm 30 may be attached to thetwo body sections by any suitable means but preferably such attachmentshould be one that is readily releasable to permit disassembly of theunit before cleaning and the like. To accomplish this, the lower endportion of the upper body section 26 is formed to have a reduceddiameter, is threaded as at 32 and an axially opening slot 34 is formedtherein. The diaphragm itself is in the form of an annulus with both theinner and outer peripheral portions formed with a rim or lip 36. Theinner peripheral rim 36 is adapted to fit into the annular slot 34 andis retained therein by locking washers 40 which are threaded onto thethreaded lower end 32 of the upper section.

In like manner, the attachment of the flexible diaphragm 30 to the lowersection 28 is accomplished by threading the entire periphery of thelower section as at 32 and providing an annular locking cap 44 which hasan internal opening or cavity capable of accommodating the lower endportion of the upper body section 26. The interior of the locking cap 44is threaded to engage the threads 32 on the upper body section and itsinner end face has an annular slot 46 formed therein to accommodate theouter peripheral lip 36 of the flexible diaphragm 30.

The lower body section 28 has its interior formed to be generallyfunnel-shaped with the mouth portion of the funnel. facing up (in thedrawing) and the lower or spout portion 48 extending downwardly so as tobe capable of being introduced into the containers 12. The spout portion48 which forms the discharge port for the entire valve 14 is flared orchamfered downwardly and outwardly to provide a circular beveled valveseat 50 for cooperation with the circular head of a valve member 52having a complementary beveled surface 54. The valve member 52 may beconstructed of rubber, plastic or other suitable semi-resilient materialand is in the form of an annular ring having a generally triangularcross-section so as to be positioned centrally upon and carried by thelower end of a hollow valve stem 56. In a preferred embodiment the valvemember 52 is formed of stainless steel such that it has longer life. Thevalve stem 56 extends upwardly through both of the valve sections andthrough the guide stem 58 which is part of an end cap 60 which isthreadedly engaged to the upper portion of the upper body section 26.The upper body section 26 has an upper portion of reduced diameter toaccommodate an annular sealing diaphragm 62 which may be used to sealthe entire valve in the bottom of a reservoir or other suitable supplycontainer and yet permit the valve to move axially along an axis, thesection of the filler-valve above diaphragm 62 thus being within thereservoir (not shown) and the valve stem 56 extending through the liquidtherein to be always above the liquid level. The annular sealingdiaphragm 62 for the filler-valve 14 is positioned about the upper bodysection 26 between two seal rings 64 which are held in position aboutthe diaphragm 62 by the end cap 60. An inlet port 66 is formed in theend cap so as to permit fluid from the reservoir (not shown) to enterinto the interior of the filler-valve 14. A lower locking collar 68 issecured about the valve stem 56 by a set screw 57 to limit the upwardaxial movement of the valve stem. A compression spring 72, positionedabout the valve stem 56 between the lower locking collar 68 and theunderside of the end cap 60, maintains the valve stem biased downwardlysuch that the valve member 52 remains fixed vertically and permits thevalve to open when the valve is actuated as will be describedhereinafter. Downward motion of the valve stem 56 is limited by a setscrew 61 which cooperates with the upper end face of the guide stemwhich has a cam-like surface 63. The high portion of the cam-likesurface 63 is formed with a slot 65 to receive the set screw 61 andthereby prevent the valve stem from rotating. If the valve stem 56 islifted against the force of the compression spring 72 and rotated suchthat the set screw 61 is allowed to slide into the trough of thecam-like surface 63, the valve member 52 is lowered away from the valveseat 50 to facilitate cleaning and repair.

The intermediate lower portion of the upper body section 56 is flangedas at 74 to accommodate an offset grommet 76 which has a stepped portion78 for holding one end of a compression spring 80. The lower end of thecompression spring is held in accordance with this invention by alocking nut 82 which also has a stepped portion 84 for receiving thelower end of the spring 80. The locking nut 82 co-operates with anannular lower end cap 86 for the lower body section 28 which end caphouses a sealing disc 94. The lower end cap 86 and the locking nut 82are threadedly engaged to the exterior threads 42 of the lower bodysection 28. The end cap 86 has a stepped extension portion 88complementary to the stepped portion 82 of the locking nut to allow itto be withdrawn from the threads of the lower body section 28 to arelatively great distance. The face of the end cap 86 has a peripheralor outer rim portion 92 which is inwardly turned to provide a retainingslot for the sealing disc 94. The sealing disc 94 may be either flat oras described in the said Ayars patent, have its outer peripheral portioncup-shaped with an upwardly extending rim portion so that the majorportion of the flat sealing disc is out of contact with the lower face92 of the end cap 86. This provides a soft, yieldable, resilient seal 94which aids in compensating for any unevenness of the rim of thecontainer and filling any voids caused by such distortion, bending orcanting of the rim of the container. Both the end cap 86 and sealingdisc 94 are annular to permit them to be positioned axially along theexterior of the spout 48 as the end cap is screwed on or off of thethreads 42 of the lower body section 48. Further, both the locking nut82 and the end cap 86 have indents 100 to accommodate a locking key toaid in tightening the locking nut against the end cap. Most of the partsof the valve are formed of stainless steel, which is generally preferredfor food processing application, however, other suitable materials maybe used as desired.

In its rest or unactuated position under the bias of the compressionsprings 72 and the valve is in the position as shown in FIG. 2. Thedrive arm 16 is in the upper (in the drawing) position, the valve isclosed and the interior of the filler-valve 14 is filled with fluidderived from the reservoir or other supply through the port 66 and thelower sealing diaphragm 30 is distended upwardly to the extent permittedby its flexibility and its resiliency. In like manner, the upper sealingdiaphragm 62 is distended upwardly into the reservoir, relative to thefloor of the reservoir by the upwardly (not shown) biased movement ofthe filler-valve 14 by the drive arm 16. Now a container 12 ispositioned under the valve and the drive arm 16 is moved by the primemover 18 downwardly (in the drawing) as denoted by the arrow 98 (FIG. 3)by automatic machinery of known type. With the downward movement of thearm 16, the upper body section 26 is moved downwardly (in the drawing).This movement continues with the seal member 94 making contact with therim of the container 12. As the downward movement of the filler-valve 14occurs the upper flexible diaphragm 62 becomes distended downwardly withrespect to the reservoir floor, as is apparent from FIG. 3, and, as theresiliency of the seal 94 is accommodated and the rim of the container12 makes a firm contact with the end face 90 of the end cap, the lowercompression spring 80 becomes compressed as the lower body section 28ceases its downward movement. At this point in time the upper bodysection 26 moves axially downward into the cavity of the lower bodysection with the lower diaphragm 30 becoming distended downwardly (FIG.3). This downward movement of the upper body section 26 causes the valvestem 56, because of the compression spring 72 urging the valve stem 56downwardly, to open the valve and permit the fluid to be dischargedcontinuously until the fluid has reached the level of the lips of thespout 48.(air escapes from the interior of the container through thehollow valve stem). Once the level of the lips is reached, fluid passagestops. No more fluid can enter the container for no more air can escape.

The drive arm 16 now reverses direction and lifts the filler-valve 14away from the container 12 such that the discharge port is again closedby the valve member 52 due to the action of the compression spring 80moving the lower body section 28 back to the position shown in FIG. 2with the valve seat 50 securely engaging the valve member 52.

In accordance with this invention the degree of fluid dispensed in thecontainer is readily changed by the adjustment of the locking nut 82 andthe end cap 86. To dispense less fluid into the container, than would bethe case for the adjustment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the end cap 86and locking nut 82 need be disengaged and screwed more deeply onto thethreaded lower body section 28 such that the spout portion 48 extendsdown below the end cap as is seen most clearly in FIG. 1. The lockingnut 82 is then tightened against the end cap 86 using a key ifnecessary. New adjustments are quickly and readily made without havingto disassemble, disengage or significantly stop work except for a shortperiod of time necessary to loosen the locking nut, adjust the end cap86 and tighten the locking nut.

There has thus been described a relatively simple, filler-valve which isreadily adjustable to accommodate dispensing different volumes of fluidinto a container.

The adjustment mechanism requires only two integral parts, both of whichare simply made.

It is obvious that many embodiments may be made of this inventiveconcept and that many modifications may be made in the embodimentshereinbefore described. Therefore, it is to be understood that alldescriptive matter herein is to be interpreted as merely illustrative,exemplary and not in a limited sense. It is intended that variousmodifications which might readily suggest themselves to those skilled inthe art be covered, as far as the prior art permits.

What is claimed is:

1. In a filler valve for use with a filler machine for filling acontainer which valve is adapted to be mounted on said filler machinefor substantially vertical movement with respect to said machine intoand out of engagement with a container to be filled, comprising avalve-body having upper and lower communicating sections connectedtogether at their adjacent ends by a flexible sealing wall so as to haverelative movement toward and from each other, biasing means normallytending to distend said sections, the upper section having fillingmaterial inlets therein, the lower section having a port in its bottomend, a valve member for said port and positioned to move outwardly ofsaid port to open the same, a valve stem carried by said valve memberand extending through said valve-body, biasing means normally tending tomove said valve member to close said port, and means on the valve stempositioned to be engaged by the said upper section during the relativemovement of said sections against their bias whereby to open said valvemember, the combination with the lower section of the valve body sealingmeans comprising an annular flange-like member threadedly engaged tosaid lower section, whereby rotation of said annular member permits thepositioning of said annular member axially of said lower section,thereby to adjust the distance with which said port can extend into saidcontainer for controlling by dis placement the volume of material to bedeposited therein.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said annular member has aninwardly extending annular end face surrounding said discharge port.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 which also includes a resilientannular gasket mounted on said annular members end face and adapted toengage the rim of said container to be filled.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said lower section definesa funnel-like cavity having a terminal elongated section defining saidport.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3 which also includes a lockingcollar threaded on the exterior of said lower section and adapted toengage frictionally said annular flange-like member, thereby to securesaid flange-like member in its selected position on said lower section.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 which also includes a lockingcollar threaded on the exterior of said outlet section and adapted toengage frictionally said annular flange-like member, thereby to securesaid flange-like member in its selected axial position on said annularmember.

1. In a filler valve for use with a filler machine for filling acontainer which valve is adapted to be mounted on said filler machinefor substantially vertical movement with respect to said machine intoand out of engagement with a container to be filled, comprising avalve-body having upper and lower communicating sections connectedtogether at their adjacent ends by a flexible sealing wall so as to haverelative movement toward and from each other, biasing means normallytending to distend said sections, the upper section having fillingmaterial inlets therein, the lower section having a port in its bottomend, a valve member for said port and positioned to move outwardly ofsaid port to open the same, a valve stem carried by said valve memberand extending through said valve-body, biasing means normally tending tomove said valve member to close said port, and means on the valve stempositioned to be engaged by the said upper section during the relativemovement of said sections against their bias whereby to open said valvemember, the combination with the lower section of the valve body sealingmeans comprising an annular flange-like member threadedly engaged tosaid lower section, whereby rotation of said annular member permits thepositioning of said annular member axially of said lower section,thereby to adjust the distance with which said port can extend into sAidcontainer for controlling by displacement the volume of material to bedeposited therein.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saidannular member has an inwardly extending annular end face surroundingsaid discharge port.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2 which alsoincludes a resilient annular gasket mounted on said annular member''send face and adapted to engage the rim of said container to be filled.4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said lower section definesa funnel-like cavity having a terminal elongated section defining saidport.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 3 which also includes a lockingcollar threaded on the exterior of said lower section and adapted toengage frictionally said annular flange-like member, thereby to securesaid flange-like member in its selected position on said lower section.6. An apparatus according to claim 1 which also includes a lockingcollar threaded on the exterior of said outlet section and adapted toengage frictionally said annular flange-like member, thereby to securesaid flange-like member in its selected axial position on said annularmember.